Shaggy

For clarity - my "not yet" was in regards to the post saying it was official. I posted that because, as I understand, the Herschend deal has stalled several times. So until it was formally announced to the media, and by the state, it wasn't official. :-) As far as admission rates, I would suspect they will increase naturally over time as investments and offerings increase. Right now, they have to remain sensitive to the market and not rock any boats.

Not yet.

Half right

Absolutely correct. The rough spot was "THE JOLT" I mentioned. It was actually the pitch of the turn on the top of hill #3 (the hill following the largest drop.) The momentum of the trains was such that when the cars reached the top of the high speed turn, the cars "bucked" to the right. This caused riders to experience an intense jerk to the right in the seats - car by car. During the entire event - as our trains arrived back in the station each time we completed the circuit, we were literally asked by staff about "the jolt" - and it was pretty obvious it was worsening as the event continued... train by train. Knowing they had the passholder event that night, the abruptly shut it down and began modifying that area of the ride to lessen the strain. The park knew by the end of the media event that a major modification was unavoidable, but they had to save face and open it - at least briefly - that night for passholders. I don't ever recall seeing so many maintenance, technicians and KI Management monitoring a ride on a passholder night. BTW - when I attended the passholder night, I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and took a picture of the techs working on it - scrambling to get it open. FYI - during both the media event, the passholder night and in those weeks that followed the reopening - a Wooden Coaster Maintenance member was staffed all day in the field to specifically monitor this area of concern. If they saw an issue, they would call the station with a code "term" created specifically for SOB - that only they and the lead ride ops and area managers knew. That "term" meant they had to shut it down immediately and indefinitely. They used this secret "term" because, by then, it was such a story that outside news people were listening to KI's communications radio channels.

As far as the announcement day, I was there and the whole event was basically a mess from an organizational standpoint. It was so bad that the (then) brand new GM (Tim Fisher) fired the park's Head of Public Relations following the announcement event. There was a bit of "chatter" online about that because, quite frankly, she was very unkind to enthusiasts in her history at the park. As far as the reactions of SOB from enthusiasts... It was pretty evenly mixed. Opinions online were not nearly as volatile as today's web-based "opinions," but there were definite hip-hoorayers and nay-sayers. You have to remember that back then, there were basically 3 main "enthusiast" platforms online - URC, Coasterbuzz and Rec.Rollercoaster. Rec.Rollercoaster was the "harshest" of the three... Coasterbuzz skewed more Cedar Point, URC more KI. With Millennium Force being built the very same year, that drew immense comparisons between the two. It seemed enthusiasts were team MForce or team SOB... at least the vocal ones. There were probably more champions for MForce overall. There was also a bevvy of comparisons to the original Beast and its legacy. There was a lot of speculation about the loop - and a debate about whether the steel support structure qualified it as a "wooden loop." Side note: the loop - probably the most debated part of the ride - ended up being the most redeeming part of it. At first, the reaction was kind of one of awe and excitement. Most simply couldn't believe they were building something of that scale. Also, people generally loved the theme. The initial logo was a bit underwhelming, but then by January they changed it and people loved the much improved final version. Later, the delays, very public construction issues, temperamental operations etc, prompted the tide to turn from excitement, to frustration. Lots of things such as the initial media day, enthusiast events, ERTs etc all got cancelled or converted into "construction tours" only. Its worth noting that, as far as I was told, the "designer" (Werner Stengel) never rode SOB or to my knowledge even stepped foot inside KI after it was built. SOB became a PR nightmare and the park really had to save face - there was a LOT of chatter about that among enthusiasts. I was very much camp SOB. I loved the concept, was excited by it, and daunted by its sheer scale. I personally felt it was a MUCH more ambitious project than MForce (or the bevvy of other coasters that were installed that year.) I say that because steel coasters were growing in size and scale - and were a proven "safe" investment. It was pretty much a given MF would succeed. SOB was a much bigger gamble - and for taking that challenge I will always applaud them. The final thing I'll say, and I've said it MANY times before. SOB never, ever, operated for the public as intended. Those of us that were lucky enough to ride on Media Day, were the only ones that got to experience it as designed. It was really something else - the height, speed, loop, overall scope. Oh it had its flaws ("THE JOLT!!!) but it was quite the rush. However, literally by the end of the media event, it was already tearing itself apart so the park shut the ride down and began the ongoing re-profiling and "neutering" of it. Had SOB not had "the accident" in 2006, I have no doubt in my mind that today it would have been a steel-tracked RMC hybrid. I truly wish it had made it that far. Imagine what a ride that would have been.

I seems the person "tweeting" for KK is doing so emotionally - and in a seemingly erratic way. My personal take is, the owners of the park were preparing press releases, they pulled back due to a complication internally... but the local "In-park Tweeter" had already proceeded with the tease campaign. I have no idea if that is indeed what happened, but I've been in the professional world long enough that I have seen similar circumstances arise in my own line of business. Marketing pulls back on PR or press because a business, administrative or contractual decision delays them.

Does that surprise you?

‘Bout time. Delay, delay, delay...

It appears the larger circles are their park properties I believe, the smaller the tourist spots (Stone Mountain etc) The oddity is Alabama Adventures location... if indeed its included.

I wouldn't necessarily jump to any ride conclusions...

I believe there were "gazebos" on stage right and left. You can vaguely see them in the concept picture of "World Cabaret" performers in my first reply above.

For posterity, here's grainy concept art for the Festhaus, as well as a pic of how it actually looked when it was first built. Trivia: For 1983, the existing Beirgarten was remodeled and the bridge that extended over the Octoberfest pond was added - as to drive traffic between the two venues.

As far as the original shows at the Festhaus... here are some Grainy print/ad images... The first two are of "World of Christmas" - the first show to play the Festhaus during Winterfest 1982. The third is of "World Cabaret" that played the 1983 spring/summer/fall season.

The levitating Houdelini figure was supported via an armature brace on his back just like the usher as you described. That brace extended to hydraulic unit that raised and lowered him while veering left to right. His entire body didn't move a tremendous amount but enough to give the illusion of floating. If memory serves me, his arms were outstretched, holding his cape ends in each hand. It was a full-bodied figure, but as you suggested his bottom half was likely nothing more than a fiberglass shell to hold the shape of legs.

Gemini serves the purpose of being a decent size "family" coaster. Although not originally opened (or promoted) as such, it is not daunting. IMO - the newer coasters at CP have grown to a disproportionate size that alienates a sector of younger, and less brave riders. Gemini is high capacity, and still a terrifically fun ride. Its actually a dont-miss for me when I go to CP. I'd hate to see it go. For posterity, I have to chuckle when I read things like "CF would never put a _____ in their flagship park..." Only because I can remember back in the day, the exact same thing was posted by many enthusiasts when the rumor mill began speculating that CP was looking at an Intamin Impulse! Never say never ;-)

Good example! I always use the "car windshield" explanation. Put something on your dashboard and then look at the windshield... the item appears as a transparent reflection. Going by memory... In the peppers ghost scene the characters included... 2 audience members in an upper seating box stage right. They turned and looked at the box next to them when Garbanzo landed in it. Houdelini was levitating above stage right. I believe Bosco was on lower stage right. Hilda was center stage on top of a large "castle tower" Garbanzo slid in and out of a large cannon on stage left. He was "shot" across the scene appearing in a viewing box on stage right. Maestro was playing an organ in the "orchestra pit" lower center stage. Lionel Burymore was on stage left. There were 2 more audience members in an upper seating box stage left. There was another audience member sitting on the railing of the farthest upper level box stage left. (I originally remembered him as Willard, but likely not.) Edit - If memory serves me, Willard Warbler did not appear in the scene... but I could be wrong.

LOL. The question is accurate. The character flipping the lights/using a flashlight, although not named afaik, was not an usher. (I called him a janitor in the quiz, but he could have also been referred to as a stagehand I guess.) The Usher(s) wore red and simply pointed, this guy was dressed differently and held a flashlight in his right hand, which he shined on buggies as they passed by. ;-) Photos below... courtesy DAFE... show the difference. The pic cuts off the flashlight.

Lol - That was my own post/quiz from many many moons ago probably before many KIC posters were even born.

The best Camp Snoopy, by far, is the original at Knotts Berry Farm. What makes the version at Knotts so great is that it is heavily saturated with big full trees, and the overall theme is woodsy (camp) and rustic. Its been overhauled a number of times - but the current version is superb. If KI must stick with the Snoopy theme, I too would love it if KI took the time to do a similar overhaul to their current kids area. It would require KI to completely gut the entire area, but if they did... it would be spectacular. Also, replicating the theme at Knotts would definitely compliment the now waning Rivertown theme... and could easily be blended to make the two areas cohesive and complimentary. Finally, Boo Blasters is crying out... no, SCREAMING... for a Snoopy themed dark ride.

Tick tock, tick tock. Happy New Year.

They’re reporting the Raptor part, but that’s not all I was referring to.

Ed Hart doesn't care for coasters at all... well, riding them, that is. ;-) He liked what they did to help drum attendance. However, as widely reported, KK did cancel their RMC Raptor. I can confirm they were going to get one. However, from what I've been told, there's a major jaw-dropping change brewing at the park that circumvented. Time will tell, stay tuned.

There's been a long-standing rumor that one car from "The Bat" survived and is in the personal collection of someone formerly affiliated with the park. However I've never personally seen any proof. I would assume the other cars were all scrapped or taken by Arrow back to their plant in Utah when they removed the coaster. For a few seasons, remnants of the brake fins & shocks were stored in a crate in the bottom floor of the Vortex station building. The crate was later pulled out (circa mid-late 1990's) from under the building and left visible in the empty queue area underneath the station. I personally saw the crate several times, but could not see into it well enough to identify if it was actually parts from "The Bat." The "heads" from the front of the cars were removed and sold at auction by the park. At least 3... that I know of... are still in the hands of collectors.

The park still does internal, employee-only, property auctions/sales. Not sure if they are annual, or season ending, but they do still happen.

If its anything like the inversions on RMC Raptors it will be a great ride. Generally, I'm not an "inversion guy" per-say, but the ones on WWGL were great. It does lack a significant/large drop... which is what made Wonder Woman at SFFT surprisingly intense when I rode.